Career and Education Opportunities for Household Appliance Repairers in Tampa, Florida

There is a wide variety of career and education opportunities for household appliance repairers in the Tampa, Florida area. There are currently 4,210 working household appliance repairers in Florida; this should grow 17% to about 4,910 working household appliance repairers in the state by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for household appliance repairers are expected to grow by about 2.2%. Household appliance repairers generally repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, and ovens.

The income of a household appliance repairer is about $16 per hour or $35,220 per year on average in Florida. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $16 per hour or $33,910 per year on average. Compared with people working in the overall category of Office and Home Equipment, people working as household appliance repairers in Florida earn more. They earn less than people working in the overall category of Office and Home Equipment nationally.

There are fifty-four schools of higher education in the Tampa area, including one within twenty-five miles of Tampa where you can get a degree to start your career as a household appliance repairer. Given that the most common education level for household appliance repairers is an Associate's, or other 2-year degree, you can expect to spend about two years studying to be a household appliance repairer if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Household Appliance Repairer

Household Appliance Repairer video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, household appliance repairers repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, and ovens.

Household appliance repairers furnish repair cost estimates, and recommend whether appliance repair or replacement is a better choice. They also remove worn and faulty parts such as switches or faulty wiring. Equally important, household appliance repairers have to disassemble appliances so that problems can be diagnosed and fixes can be made. They are often called upon to observe and examine appliances during operation to uncover specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid. They are expected to trace electrical circuits and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to find shorts and grounds. Finally, household appliance repairers clean and touch up minor defects on newly installed or repaired appliances.

Every day, household appliance repairers are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they note differences between sounds as they change tone and volume.

It is important for household appliance repairers to service and repair domestic electrical and/or gas appliances such as clothes washers and dryers. They are often called upon to assemble new or reconditioned appliances. They also observe and test operation of appliances following installation, and make any initial installation adjustments that are needed. They are sometimes expected to maintain stocks of parts used in on-site installation and maintenance of appliances. Somewhat less frequently, household appliance repairers are also expected to contact supervisors or offices to receive repair assignments.

They also have to be able to conserve and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems and record maintenance and repair work performed on appliances. And finally, they sometimes have to respond to emergency calls for problems such as gas leaks.

Like many other jobs, household appliance repairers must be reliable and have exceptional integrity.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Household Appliance Repairer Training

D G Erwin Technical Center - Tampa, FL

D G Erwin Technical Center, 2010 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610-8255. D G Erwin Technical Center is a small school located in Tampa, Florida. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 847 students. D G Erwin Technical Center has a one to two year program in Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation & Repair which graduated thirty-three students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Customer Service Specialist:
An individual who successfully passes ETA's World Class CSS Certification exam is professionally recognized as having the ability to uphold the interpersonal and business standards necessary in today's workplace.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida photo by Caltrop

Tampa is located in Hillsborough County, Florida. It has a population of over 340,882, which has grown by 12.3% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Tampa, 95, is near the national average. New single-family homes in Tampa are valued at $188,700 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, six hundred thirty-five new homes were constructed in Tampa, down from 1,008 the previous year.

The three big industries for women in Tampa are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 23 minutes. More than 25.4% of Tampa residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 9.2%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Tampa is 11.8%, which is greater than Florida's average of 11.3%.

The percentage of Tampa residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 41.8%, is less than the national average but more than the state average. Abundant Life Assembly of God Church, Florida Tampa Mission and Most Holy Redeemer Church are among the churches located in Tampa. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church.

Tampa is home to the Parkers Railroad Station and the Drew Station Railroad Station as well as Ybor City Museum State Park and American Legion Playground. Shopping centers in the area include Northgate Shopping Center, Old Hyde Park Village Shopping Center and Benttree Plaza Shopping Center. Visitors to Tampa can choose from Backstage Restaurant & Lounge, Baymont Tampa Busch Gardens and Budget Inn for temporary stays in the area.